Can you find an affordable substitute for the neighborhood of your dreams?

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Location, location, location: That's the most important thing in real estate. Or so they say. With rents climbing ever upwards in the city, you may find yourself living in a place that's barely on the map. But that doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to do without the vibe of your first-choice neighborhood. A newtool from Naked Apartments—full disclosure: they're a BrickUnderground sponsor—may have the answer.

Unlike traditional search filters, where you have to input the neighborhoods where you want to find apartments in your price range, the "neighborhood finder" lets you choose from a bevy of qualities that describe your ideal nesting spot—like "good transportation," "LGBT-popular" and "on the rise"—then pulls up options from across the city. (Your results will also depend on the listings they have in the system.)

Our sample search: We dream of the East Village but can't afford it, but still want great food and nightlife. The tool suggests Harlem, which offers both. Of course, if you work in the Financial District, this won't exactly help with your commute. Still, with a median rent for a one-bedroom in an elevator building of $1,875 a month versus $3,092, it might be worth the trek.

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